2 days ago
This Bath side can rule English rugby for a dynasty, writes DAN BIGGAR... winning the Premiership final would be a fitting end to a stunning season
There is no doubt Bath have been the best team in the Gallagher Premiership this season, but their performance to reach the final saw them go up another notch.
I thought Johann van Graan's side were exceptional against Bristol on Friday night, the way they played rubberstamping their tag as champions-elect.
This Bath side have everything. They will be strong favourites in Saturday's final against Leicester. Of course, anything can happen in a one-off game.
You saw that in the 2024 final, when Bath prop Beno Obano was sent off. Even with 14 men, his team were only just beaten by Northampton, so you could make a good argument to say the result would have been different if he'd stayed on.
So long as Bath don't go a player down this time, I think they'll win. The reason I say that is because they have the ability to play several different ways.
They have an all-round game that no one else in England can match.
Bristol really worried them with their attack in the first half, but the way Bath responded in the third quarter to score 28 unanswered points was exceptional. The semi-final at the Rec was a brilliant advert for the Premiership, a proper old-school derby with everything on the line played in front of a brilliant and hostile crowd.
At a time when there is talk of a new breakaway league in rugby, it was a reminder of how good the English club game can be.
Any side in the world would have been caused problems by some of the rugby Bristol played in the first 40 minutes. But what I liked about Bath was there was no panic.
Bristol should have been further clear at the break and I think they had some tough calls go against them. What Bath were so good at in the third quarter was playing structured rugby.
Yes, they still moved the ball. But they were in control after Bristol sucked them into a game of sevens in the first half. Bath have pace as well as power. They can turn the screw in different ways and their bench impact is huge.
A lot of their calmness is driven by Van Graan, who is a very impressive character. Cynics might belittle his input and say Bath have spent the most money on their squad, so should be winning. That is not the case at all.
Van Graan is a top-quality coach. Bath won't want to lose him and I'm sure owner Bruce Craig will tie him down to an even longer contract if Bath win the Premiership. But he looks an international coach in waiting.
Yes, he has a very strong team. But he has not only put that together since joining in 2022, he also totally aligned the club on and off the field. In my time in the Premiership with Northampton, Bath were a sleeping giant - a big club in name and stature but one not delivering on the field. Now, they are.
You don't always get what you deserve but if there's any justice, Bath will win the final
They can win matches with brilliant attack. If you want to take them on in a dogfight, they can do that, too. Their defence is exceptional.
It must be brilliant to be a part of their team right now, knowing that whatever the opposition brings, you have the tools to deal with it. I don't think I ever had that in my career and I was fortunate to play in some very good teams for both club and country.
You don't always get what you deserve in professional sport. But if there is any justice in the world, it will be Bath who win the final on Saturday.
Yes, Leicester will do everything they can to upset the applecart and they will undoubtedly cause Van Graan's men problems.
But if all goes to plan for Bath, it is their fans who will be celebrating what would be an historic treble. That would be a fitting way for their club to finish an amazing season.
It could be the start of a dynasty of them dominating English rugby for many years to come, like Saracens have done in the past. They are that good.
